Instagram guide
How to post on Instagram from your computer, on a schedule.
Publish and schedule photos, carousels, Reels and Stories without picking up your phone. Invite collaborators, tag people, add music, choose your Reel cover and have your first comment ready to go, all through Meta's official API.
Updated October 2026
Start for freeWhat you can publish
Every format below is published through the network's official API, straight from Plumox.
Photo
A single image in the feed, with alt text for accessibility and tagged people.
Carousel
2 to 10 photos and videos in one post, the format that drives the most saves.
Reels
Vertical videos that show up in the Reels tab and, if you want, on your profile grid too.
Stories
An image or video that stays live for 24 hours, perfect for behind-the-scenes content and quick offers.
Collab
Invite up to 3 accounts so the post also appears on their profiles once they accept.
Music
Upload your own track and Plumox mixes it into the video. A photo with music automatically becomes a Reel.
Step by step
Create your account and connect Instagram
Sign up for Plumox and connect your professional account (Business or Creator) through Instagram's official login. It takes less than a minute and you never share your password.
Open the post editor
From the menu, go to Instagram > Content to publish right away, or to Scheduling > Posts to choose a date and time.
Choose the format and upload your media
Select Photo, Carousel, Reel or Story and upload files from your computer or paste a public link. For carousels, drag the items into whatever order you like.
Write your caption
You have up to 2,200 characters. Open with a strong hook on the first line, explain the value of the post and end with a clear call to action.
Set your Instagram options
Under More Instagram options: invite collaborators (collab), tag people, add music, set the Reel cover and audio name, choose whether the Reel also goes to your grid and write the first comment with your hashtags.
Publish or schedule
Publish now or pick a date. Turn on AI time suggestions to post when your audience is most active. The post goes out on time even if your computer is off.
Reply and track results
Comments and DMs arrive in the Plumox inbox. In Insights you can see the reach, saves and shares of every post.
Why post with Plumox
Hassle-free collabs
Invite up to 3 public accounts per post. Each one gets the invite in the app, and the post appears on their profile once they accept. It's the fastest way to reach a partner's audience.
Music on Reels
Upload a track, choose the section and set the volume of the music and the original audio. Plumox mixes everything into the video before publishing.
Automatic first comment
Put your hashtags or an extra link in the first comment, published seconds after the post.
Trial Reels
Show a Reel only to people who don't follow you yet, then decide whether to share it with your followers. Great for testing ideas without cluttering your profile.
Comments become DMs
Set up a keyword and anyone who comments it gets the link in their DMs instantly. It works on boosted posts too.
Profile analysis
Find your best formats, days and times, compare yourself with competitors and get a content plan to grow your followers.
Best practices to reach more people
- Short Reels (7 to 30 seconds) with a hook in the first 3 seconds tend to reach more people who don't follow you yet.
- Educational carousels drive more saves and shares, signals that Instagram values highly.
- Consistency beats volume: 3 to 5 posts a week at a steady pace work better than 10 posts in one day and nothing for the rest of the month.
- Use keywords from your niche in your caption and in your profile's name field: Instagram search reads the text, not just hashtags.
- Collab with accounts that complement yours. It's the cheapest way to get in front of a new, qualified audience.
- End your caption with a question or a clear ask (save, comment, share). It sparks more conversation on the post.
Recommended formats and sizes
| Item | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Feed photo | JPEG, 1080 x 1350 px (4:5) or 1080 x 1080 px (1:1), up to 8 MB |
| Carousel | 2 to 10 items, photos and videos mixed, same aspect ratio for all |
| Reels | MP4 or MOV (H.264), 1080 x 1920 px (9:16), from 3 seconds to 15 minutes |
| Stories | 1080 x 1920 px (9:16); video up to 60 seconds |
| Caption | Up to 2,200 characters and 30 hashtags |
| Collabs and tags | Up to 3 collaborators and 20 tagged people per post |
Frequently asked questions
Can I post on Instagram from my computer?
Yes. With Plumox you publish and schedule photos, carousels, Reels and Stories right from your computer's browser, with nothing to install.
Do I need a professional account?
Yes. Publishing through Meta's official API works with Business or Creator accounts. Switching is free and done in the Instagram app under Settings > Account type and tools.
Can I create a collab post when scheduling?
Yes. Enter up to 3 accounts in the Collaborators field. They receive the invite when the post is published and, once they accept, the post also appears on their profile.
Can I add music from Instagram's library?
Meta doesn't open the app's music library to API publishing, for any tool. In Plumox you upload your own track (one you have the rights to use) and it's mixed into the video, with control over the section and volume.
Can I schedule Instagram Stories?
Yes, both image and video Stories. The story is published at the scheduled time and stays live for 24 hours, just like any other.
Is it safe? Could my account get blocked?
Plumox uses only Meta's official API, the same one used by the major tools on the market. You never share your password and you can disconnect at any time.
Guides for other networks
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